This morning, large pieces of plaster broke off from the cornice of a building in the historic center of Alghero, falling onto the street in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria.

By a fortunate coincidence, the debris did not hit any of the many pedestrians who pass through the area daily. The collapse, caused by the deterioration of the cornice, caused several fragments, some of considerable size, to fall onto the cobblestone pavement.

As the photograph shows, the debris has spread across the roadway, right along the stretch used by pedestrians and tourists. This is one of the busiest spots in the historic center, where groups of visitors pass every day, stopping in front of the Cathedral to take photographs or listen to explanations from tour guides.